Comedy Fest

THE LUCILLE BALL FESTIVAL OF COMEDY TO BE FEATURED ON ABC NEWS 20/20

JAMESTOWN, NY – July 20th, 2012 – ABC News 20/20 will be sending producers to cover the Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy on August 3-4 as part of a Barbara Walters 2-hour special, “The Best in TV—The Greatest Shows of Our Time.”

“To have ABC News and People magazine come to town really proves how global our audience and brand is.” said Journey Gunderson, executive director of the Lucy Desi Center for Comedy.

ABC News 20/20 and People Magazine are currently running a poll onwww.bestintelevision.com, where I Love Lucy is a strong contender to win two awards, Best Television Comedy of All Time and Best Television Show of All Time. Nearly a million people have voted already, and the online poll will take place until the end of the month.

The 2-hour Barbara Walters special, which will run later in the summer, will feature Jamestown’s annual comedy festival, the Lucy World Games on Tracey Plaza, footage from both museum attractions, and an exclusive interview with Lucie and Desi Arnaz.

The first chance to be a part of ABC’s coverage will be at the World Games opening ceremony at Tracey Plaza on Friday, August 3rd at 5:30 p.m.. In addition to the World Games events, the Party on the Plaza will return to Jamestown. Food, drinks, free live music, and fun for all will all be available on both days.

Two of the I Love Lucy-inspired events at the Lucy World Games, grape stomping and conveyor belt candy wrapping, are featured in ABC’s online poll as some of the greatest moments in television history. Other events include a 1.5K walk/run, Lucy trivia, a costume contest, and an Amazing Race-Lucy Style.

After the World Games, the festivities will move towards the Reg Lenna Civic Center, where ABC will be covering the Stand-Up Showcase, featuring Lucie Arnaz and Tammy Pescatelli. Lucy Fest has featured performances by then-rising stars Ray Romano, Lewis Black and Ellen DeGeneres, and aims to catch comics on a similar rise to the top with the 2012 showcase. Tickets are now available at LucyComedyFest.com.

The Lucy World Games

One of the specific events that ABC News is particularly excited to cover is the Lucy World Games. Businesses, sports teams, local celebrities, and Lucy fans alike will all have the opportunity to be a part of the festivities in Jamestown, NY on August 3-4. People from across the area and around the United States will gather at Tracy Plaza to compete in eight “Lucy-Style” events.

Businesses that register for the games will receive personalized participant t-shirts, six tickets to the Stand-Up Showcase featuring Lucie Arnaz and Tammy Pescatelli on Friday, August 3rd, and the chance to be named a Lucy World Games champion! Team registration for businesses costs $300 for up to 20 participants. Teammates may participate in multiple events and all events are not mandatory.

Additionally, registration for local sports teams is $10 per person, and registration for individuals is $20. Participant t-shirts and entry into all World Games events is included in the registration cost.

For more information or to register your team, please contact Edward Sundquist at 716-664-7429 or visit www.lucycomedyfest.com. This event is hosted by the Lucy-Desi Center for Comedy located in Jamestown, NY and sponsored by Allied Alarm Services.

About The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival

The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, or “Lucy Fest,” embodies Ball’s vision for her hometown legacy: a celebration of the comedic arts held annually on the weekend closest to her birth date, August 6th. This year’s festival runs August 1st-5th and features performances by Paula Poundstone, Lucie Arnaz, Tammy Pescatelli, Story Pirates, Billy Gardell from CBS’s Mike & Molly, and much, much more! Visit www.LucyComedyFest.com for more information and tickets.

According to an economic impact study conducted by Buffalo firm Paradigm Economics and commissioned by the Lucy Desi Center for Comedy and the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, the 2011 five-day festival saw 13,000 in attendance and had a direct impact of $3.6 million on Chautauqua County.

The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival is the first pillar in a four-pillar Legacy of Laughter vision for the organization, including a comedic arts education program, comedy film festival and the establishment of the first national comedy museum and hall of fame.

The mission of the Lucy Desi Center for Comedy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is to preserve the legacy of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and enrich the world through the healing powers of love and laughter through its commitment to the development of the comedic arts.